The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) asked political candidates running for the 2025 elections to respect intellectual property (IP) rights when preparing their promotional materials.
While the campaign period has yet to start next year, IPOPHL reminded candidates to seek permission from artists before using their works for campaign jingles, slogans and merchandise.
“Candidates’ respect for IP rights is a litmus test of their integrity and trustworthiness. Any voter would not want to see copyright owners and artists deprived of their rights,” said IPOPHL director-general Rowel Barba.
Barba said political candidates who violate IP rights may face public backlash and copyright infringement lawsuits.
Under the IP Code of 1997, a derivative work, such as a campaign jingle or slogan, is considered a new work based on an existing copyrighted work.
Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR) director Emerson Cuyo encouraged politicians and parties to contact IPOPHL-accredited collective management organizations (CMOs) to secure the right licenses for using copyrighted works.
CMOs like Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc. (FILSCAP), Philippines Recorded Music Rights Inc. (PRM), Independent Music Producers of the Philippines (IMPRO) and Sounds Recording Rights Society Inc. (SRRS) can facilitate negotiations and licensing arrangements for songs and music.
Cuyo also encouraged music artists to join the 2nd Philippine-International Copyright Summit (PICS) from Oct. 21 to 25, 2024.
The summit will feature sessions on music trends, legal frameworks and artist experiences with copyright protection.
Barba said the 2nd PICS would equip artists with the knowledge needed to address infringement concerns swiftly, especially during the upcoming election period.
